Highest ring IQs

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Xplosive, Apr 30, 2020.

  1. THE BLADE 2

    THE BLADE 2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    Messages:
    11,781
    Likes Received:
    4,529
  2. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    27,133
    Likes Received:
    44,921
    Argüello has, Buchanan is an excellent pick. Could Laguna count?
     
    Clinton likes this.
  3. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    Messages:
    24,341
    Likes Received:
    9,959
    Laguna yes.

    Laguna wasnt a Khan or Judah - fast guys with no brains.
     
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  4. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2019
    Messages:
    3,527
    Likes Received:
    4,288
    Duran, Moore and Monzon are the stand outs for me from the original list. Oh, and Ezzard Charles, (Sorry George !).
    Lots of other great names too. I would give "Old Bones" Joe Brown a mention too.
     
  5. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2007
    Messages:
    16,303
    Likes Received:
    15,378
    Arbachakov ..Giardello ..Billy Graham ..Benton..B. Leonard..Tunney..Holmes
     
    Tippy, TipNom, Tin_Ribs and 1 other person like this.
  6. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    Messages:
    24,341
    Likes Received:
    9,959
    The "other" Carlos (Ortiz) is also a handout for me.

    Ortiz had an insanely high ring IQ.
     
  7. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    27,133
    Likes Received:
    44,921
    Joe Gans was a lexicon.
     
    Thor Odinson, Clinton, TipNom and 2 others like this.
  8. bowlingkid09

    bowlingkid09 Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2015
    Messages:
    395
    Likes Received:
    229
    Has anyone mentioned Julio Cesar Chavez yet?
     
    Clinton likes this.
  9. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2019
    Messages:
    8,547
    Likes Received:
    9,575
    My first thoughts: Archie Moore, Tommy Loughran and Bob Fitzsimmons. Tons of great mentions here
     
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  10. Tin_Ribs

    Tin_Ribs Me Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2009
    Messages:
    4,405
    Likes Received:
    3,881
    Sammy Mandell is underrated in general but had a high ring IQ. Great fighter.

    Ross. You don't get as far as he did- arguably a top ten fighter of all time - with no punch and a non-exceptional level of athleticism nor insane defensive talent (though he was no doubt quick and defensively good) without truly great intelligence and ring generalship.

    Lou Ambers too, though he was aided by great strength and infighting ability despite lacking other physical tools a bit.

    I think it counts for more when a fighter lacks any number of truly elite physical aspects but achieves greatness still, being forced to rely purely on a range of tricks, technique, great fundamentals, adaptability, versatility, mental strength, speed of thought, general fighting nous and instinct etc. Most fighters have exceptional physicality though I suppose, in one way or another, be it speed, stamina, strength, power, chin. Ross, who I mentioned, had tremendous stamina and was made of iron.
     
    Tippy, JC40, Clinton and 2 others like this.
  11. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    Messages:
    24,341
    Likes Received:
    9,959
    Not an all time great, but Greg Haugen had a very high ring IQ.

    He fits into Tin's criteria of being a guy without any special physical attributes who became a top fighter on skill and smarts alone.
     
    Tin_Ribs and andrewe like this.
  12. andrewe

    andrewe Ezekiel 33 banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2020
    Messages:
    647
    Likes Received:
    537
    MUHAMMAD ALi
     
    Tippy likes this.
  13. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    27,133
    Likes Received:
    44,921
  14. asero

    asero Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2009
    Messages:
    17,373
    Likes Received:
    309
    Ivan Calderon. How small and limited he his. He was a staple in P4P list in his prime.
     
    TipNom, Xplosive and George Crowcroft like this.
  15. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2018
    Messages:
    3,238
    Likes Received:
    7,120
    Looking through and surprised no mention of Harold Johnson.
     
    Tin_Ribs, Clinton, TipNom and 2 others like this.